Wandering around Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Panama recently, we were excited to discover the hotel had its own private library, accessible via a small staircase leading up from the lobby.

Which is, in many ways, far superior to the usual "VIP" club lounge experience. For starters, all guests are welcome, it's always quiet and peaceful, and you can actually educate yourself about your surroundings with bookshelves full of texts on Panamanian history and wildlife. Plus, it kind of reminded us of the library scene from Beauty and the Beast—except way smaller. And in the middle of a rainforest.

What's it like shacking up in the middle of the rainforest for a few days? Not as bad as you'd think! The independently-owned Gamboa Rainforest Resort went up 12 years ago, and was built as a way for visitors to experience the rainforest of Panama, while still enjoying all the luxuries of a full-service hotel—like tiled bathrooms, a Club Lounge, and air conditioning.

Technically, the resort isn't too, too far from civilization—it's only about a 45-minute drive from Panama City. But by the look (just trees and rivers for miles), feel (kinda woodsy), and sound of it (birds!), you'd think you were in it for the long haul. And that's just how owner Herman Bern wanted it: "The great thing about Gamboa," he told us, "is you go out fishing on a boat, and all of a sudden, you could be in the middle of the Amazon. Then, in half an hour, you can go back to the city and have a glass of champagne."